In theaters you’ll find the return of a different sort of avenging hero and an otherworldly threat. (Can xenomorphs be said to have faces familiar or otherwise? Discuss.) But those in search of something fresh and new won’t be disappointed either, thanks to a hip-hop biopic from Ireland, a killer smart home, and a new M. Night Shyamalan film promising plenty of twists and turns. The month kicks off, however, in Gotham City. Read on for our guide to best movies and shows to watch in August.
What to Watch: August 2024 Movies and Shows
From theatrical releases to fresh series to stream, here’s what should be on your radar for August 2024.
Bruce Timm, the driving force behind Batman: The Animated Series and other acclaimed superhero series from the Nineties and 2000s, reunites with the Dark Knight for this new take on the character. Set in an alternate version of the 1940s, it offers fresh spins on classic characters while dialing up the noir trappings and pitting Batman (voiced by Hamish Linklater) against both criminals and a distrustful police force. Watch on Prime Video
The Belfast hip-hop trio Kneecap has won fans, and stirred controversy, by performing politically charged songs in Irish (where speaking Irish is itself a political statement). The group’s origin story gets a slightly fictionalized telling via this raucous biopic, a hit at Sundance earlier this year. Get Tickets on Fandango
The latest from M. Night Shyamalan stars Josh Hartnett as a dad attending a pop concert with his daughter. The twist: Well, expect several given the director. Get Tickets on Fandango
In a new series executive produced by David Caspe ( Happy Endings ), Adam Pally stars as a struggling sports memorabilia dealer who might have a way to turn his luck around: a little help from his childhood basketball teammate Steph Curry. Curry plays himself alongside SNL ’s Ego Nwodim. Stream on Peacock
Matt Damon and Casey Affleck (who also co-wrote the script) play a mismatched pair of Boston criminals who team up for a heist. What could go wrong? The answer seems to be a lot in Doug Liman’s second film of the year (after Road House ), which features everyone from Hong Chau to Ving Rhames in supporting roles. Stream With Apple TV+ Free Trial
A hit video game series since its first installment in 2009, Borderlands gets the big-screen treatment with this Eli Roth-directed film. Like the series, it appears to be a space western that doesn’t take itself too seriously while still piling on the action. Playing an outlaw returning to her home planet, Cate Blanchett stars alongside Kevin Hart and the voice of Jack Black. Get Tickets on Fandango
Euphoria ’s Hunter Schafer stars as a teen who, reluctantly, moves to a strange German resort overseen by the even stranger Mr. König (Dan Stevens) in this oddball thriller from director Tilman Singer. Odd happenings follow in a film that channels the spirit of weird European horror films from the Sixties and Seventies. Get Tickets on Fandango
Another Sundance breakout, India Donaldson’s low-key drama stars Lily Collias as Sam, a teenager who happily tags along on a camping trip with her dad (James Le Gros) and his best friend (Danny McCarthy). Donaldson’s first film, it’s already won considerable praise for its direction and Collias’ performance. Get Tickets on Fandango
Co-directed by Natalie Rae and Angela Patton, this documentary follows the stories of four daughters and their incarcerated fathers as they prepare for a Daddy Daughter Dance. Widely acclaimed when it played festivals earlier this year, it’s one of the year’s most notable documentaries. Stream on Netflix
Bill Lawrence ( Scrubs , Ted Lasso ) adapts a 2013 Carl Hiassen novel about a down-on-his-luck former Florida police detective (Vince Vaughn) who stumbles on what appears to be a massive crime. That sounds like a natural match of sensibilities between show creator, the source material’s author, and star, all of whom have experience with wry comedy and eccentric characters. The supporting cast playing those eccentric characters includes Michelle Monaghan, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Rob Delaney. Stream With Apple TV+ Free Trial
Set between the events of Alien and Aliens , the latest entry in the Alien series stars Cailee Spaney ( Priscilla , Civil War ), who plays one of a group of space colonists who encounter, let’s just say, unforeseen adversity. Fede Álvarez ( Don’t Breathe ) directs. Get Tickets on Fandango
Speaking of visits to strange places that go awry, Zoë Kravitz’s directorial debut is set on a billionaire’s private island where something odd seems to be going on behind the scenes. Kravitz recruited an impressive cast for what appears to be a twisty thriller. Look for everyone from Channing Tatum to Haley Joel Ostment to Geena Davis to turn up on the island. Get Tickets on Fandango
James O’Barr’s goth-favorite graphic novel about an undead musician hellbent on revenge was first adapted over 30 years ago and inspired four sequels. This entry marks a fresh start, one starring Bill Skarsgard and directed by Rupert Sanders ( Snow White and the Huntsman ). Get Tickets on Fandango
Created by Charlie Covell ( The End of the F***ing World ), this new comedy stars Jeff Goldblum as Zeus, a god who’s beginning to worry his time night be near its end. Joining him in the pantheon: Janet McTeer, David Thewils, Cliff Curtis, and others. Stream on Netflix
Smart homes make our lives easier, but what if they’re a little too smart? That’s the premise behind this Chris Weitz-directed horror film starring John Cho and Katherine Waterston as parents who agree to test out a new AI assistant and soon come to regret the decision. Get Tickets on Fandango
Most Popular
Comments / 0